2011 Volkswagen Tiguan Reliability
The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan has 162 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Tiguan model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Tiguan's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
162
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2011 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 63 | 39% |
| Electrical system | 47 | 29% |
| Exterior lighting | 39 | 24% |
| Air bags | 30 | 19% |
| Steering | 14 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 12 | 7% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 8 | 5% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 8 | 5% |
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan recalls
3 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2011 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V569000 | Nov 22, 2013 | Electrical system — wiring / fuses and circuit breakers | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 through June 2011. Due to a problem with the fuse for the exterior lights, the holder for the fuse that controls the vehicle's… |
| 14V441000 | Jul 21, 2014 | Fuel system | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2009-2014 Tiguan vehicles manufactured July 2007 to June 2014. When using winterized fuel, in certain conditions bubbles may form in the fuel system which could result in the… |
| 15V483000 | Aug 4, 2015 | Air bags — frontal | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may… |
How the 2011 compares with nearby Tiguan years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Tiguan analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 167 | 3 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2010 | 110 | 2 | Engine | Caution |
| 2011 (this page) | 162 | 3 | Engine | Caution |
| 2012 | 153 | 3 | Engine | Caution |
| 2013 | 140 | 3 | Air bags | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 3 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2011 Volkswagen Tiguan reliability FAQ
Is the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan reliable?
The 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan has 162 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Compared with other Tiguan model years, it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Tiguan's typical year.
What are the most common 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan are engine (63), electrical system (47), exterior lighting (39), air bags (30). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan, including 13V569000 (electrical system — wiring / fuses and circuit breakers) and 14V441000 (fuel system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan compare with the 2010 and 2012 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2010 has 110 complaints and 2 recalls (caution); the 2012 has 153 complaints and 3 recalls (caution). The 2011 has 162 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2011 Volkswagen Tiguan?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Volkswagen Tiguan research
Other Volkswagen Tiguan model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2011 Tiguan, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.